Audi has revealed the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo – an all-electric race car concept designed for virtual competition on the PlayStation 4.
The racer was originally only conceived to be included in the Gran Turismo video game to celebrate its 15th anniversary. However, the German car manufacturer has announced that it has built a one-off, fully functional version to support its team in the all-electric Formula E single-seater championship.
It will be used as a ‘race taxi’, giving guests of Audi hot laps on the series’ street circuits, starting in Rome on Saturday, April 14.
Peter Mertens, technical development boss at Audi, said: “E-mobility is rapidly gaining importance.
“That is why in 2017 Audi was the first German manufacturer to enter Formula E with a factory-backed commitment. In our motorsport development laboratory, we are continuously expanding our expertise in e-mobility and gathering valuable experience – in extremely demanding conditions as well.
“With the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo race taxi we are turning electric mobility into a tangible experience for our customers and guests as part of the Formula E races – in the middle of the world’s metropolises.”
The electric powertrain produces 794bhp and feeds all four wheels via two electric motors at the rear wheels and a third powering the front two. It has a carbon-fibre construction to keep weight down, tipping the scales at 1,450kg with a 50/50 weight distribution.
Its face is an evolution of the existing R8 supercar’s design and could signal a first look at the next-generation model’s appearance, perhaps even hinting that Audi is going to have another go at an EV R8 following a very limited trial run between 2014 and 2016.